He is the Ide of the Oko kingdom in Anambra state, where his younger brother, Lazarus, is the traditional ruler.

He was vice president to former president Shehu Shagari and ousted in a coup staged by military officers

He was also honoured by the council of Traditional Rulers in the old Aguata as the Ide of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State comprising forty-four (44) towns.

Ekwueme is a distinguished architect who started his professional career as an assistant architect with a Seattle-based firm, Leo A. Daly and associates, and also with the London-based firm Nickson and Ppartners.

He worked briefly with ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing the construction and maintenance department.

He founded Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners, the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.